Annual Festival of Trees raises money for Emporia State scholarships

November 27, 2012

The community is invited to participate in the fifth annual Festival of Trees, a fundraiser that benefits the general scholarship fund at Emporia State University.

The concept is simple — artificial trees are set up in the Memorial Union and various organizations adopt them. The adopting organizations don’t pay a fee, but they do provide all the decorations for the trees, which then are auctioned off.

Organizations compete in various categories — Greek Life, general Recognized Student Organizations, ESU Offices/Departments, Multicultural Organizations, International Organizations, Athletic Teams, Preschools and Community Businesses/Organizations with the best tree in each received a plaque. A team of judges also will award an overall best of show and runner-up. Those organizations will receive cash prizes of $100 and $75, respectively.

Any group wanting to adopt and decorate a tree should contact Roger Heineken at (620) 341-5291 or reheineke@emporia.edu. The trees will be set up Dec. 3 with decorating beginning at 3 p.m. that day and continuing through noon Dec. 6.

At noon on Dec. 6, the silent auction for the trees begins and runs through 1 p.m. Dec. 8. In the past, successful bidders have donated their trees to hospital waiting rooms, nursing homes, shelters and other community-service organizations.

On Friday, Dec. 7 the Festival of Trees program begins at noon with live entertainment, door prizes and a visit from Santa Claus.

Emporia State University is a dynamic and progressive student-centered learning community that fosters student success through engagement in academic excellence, community and global involvement, and the pursuit of personal and professional fulfillment.